New Moon (zzzzz)

I still cannot understand what's so great about Twilight and its sequel New Moon. The plot, which is the love story between a human and a vampire is "so 2000-late"! And throwing a werewolf into the mix just won't cut it. Ugh! Sorry boys and girls but the lack of creativity of this film especially the blandness of the characters leaves me wanting to just watch Sesame Street's The Count Dracula. I tell you, I get more kick from his performance than Bella, Edward and Jacob combined.

After the storm

It has been a week of constant washing off filth and mud brought by Ondoy's onslaught and as per my nephew's comment we are somewhat 80% back to normal.

I agree as our washing machine is still kaput (spin dryer does not want to spin), the electric fan which did not even get submerged won't run (nakikiramay sa spin dryer), we do not have a TV cabinet anymore, the doors are still swelling from all the water that it absorbed and the Civic is still waiting to be towed.

Most of the items though are already in place. We have electricity already and water from the tap is abundant. My cousin changed the electrical outlets and moved it a meter higher than the original. The ref is functioning, the phone lines restored as well as the internet . The what-have-yous that used to be inside the cabinets under the sink were all thrown away (finally)! Some of the displays are already in their racks, wall art hanged and furniture re-arranged. It was a lot of work considering that we had very little water. The first few days we had to make do with collecting water in containers and augment it by lining up to get water at the nearest hydrant. Thanks to my boss who offered to provide cleaning water in carboys we were able to finish up and get back to our modest abode. I tell you, after the water subsided, our place looked like a backyard pottery industry. Mud is in every nook and cranny!

Haaay... during the week that passed we had to stay at my brother's house and although his place is big and definitely better than where we live there is still no place like home. Everyday we would go back to the house, pick-up things, fix holes, wipe off mud , scrub out dirt until we can no longer see what we are cleaning (by candle light lang kasi) and then head back to my brother's place to dine and sleep and then repeat the same routine the next day.

When I look at the people scurrying about in our neighborhood I see their distraught faces. Paranoia has set in such that whenever it rains we look outside from time to time to see if water is rushing in again. During the approach of Pepeng the things that I brought down my mom asked to have it brought up again fearing that flooding will recur. Naman eh! Good thing Pepeng brought manageable amount of rain. A friend though who lives in Pasig until now has flood water inside their house chest-deep. They have opted to live for the mean time at his aunt's. It was tough for many of us but we are still lucky in a lot of ways. Some lost not only their possessions and homes but also their loved ones...

What's next? I heard there is another typhoon coming. Hindi na ba titigil yan???

NoyPI

visit the website www.noynoyaquino.com

Zipline Jitters

Traversing an expanse of 250 feet from a point as high as 300 feet high via cable wires with just a harness is quite an experience! The zipline at the Picnic Grove in Tagaytay is something that one should not pass up. Rates are somewhat reasonable, as the one way ride costs a hundred bucks and two way ride two hundred bucks during weekdays. However, during holidays rates are slightly higher. Mind you, it does not include the photo shot while you are hanging which is an additional Php 150 with matching frame (medyo baduy pero pwede na).

I must admit I had second thoughts of going through it when I saw the set-up. The wires look sturdy enough and so does the harness but one cannot shake off the thought of the possibility of a cable snapping or one of the belts giving way. And it does not help at all that the almost 60kph approaching speed is met only by two tyres along the cable wires as the line ends. I tell you, it does not look pretty when you see people being jerked by the sudden halt.

First thing that came to my mind is how gruesome it will be if I plunge to my death halfway down the ride. But looking at the riders, they seem to be having a great time and I see no one screaming their lungs out for help. And so, with much hesitation and with great (false) bravado I allowed myself to be strapped, pushed and be photographed while hanging down the line. During the ride though (around less than a minute) a sense of awe swept through me as I look down the thicket. For a brief moment, the feeling that I am just a small speck in this pocket of nature overpowered my fear. And once I was safely at the other end, the desire to go back and ride again was immense. I wanted to ride again! he he.

Cory Aquino - definitely not an ordinary housewife

Just twenty days from the death anniversary of her husband, former Philippine President Corazon Aquino met her Maker at 3:18 in the morning (Aug 1, 2009). It was not a surprise as she has been a month in the hospital battling colon cancer yet, one can never be ready for such a loss.

She has always been referred by the media as an ordinary housewife that toppled a dictator. She was branded by then administration loyalists as "walang alam" which meant that she was ignorant and knows nothing about politics much more - lead a country. However, said ignorance was the one that gave her the mass appeal. Her image as a person that is not a "trapo" TRAditional POlitician became a unifying force for the opposition to proclaim a single candidate against a 20 year dictator Ferdinand Marcos. It eventually inspired the people to support a coup against Marcos and stage the most peaceful uprising - the People Power Revolution.

Cory's presidency was peppered with seven coup attempts, frequent brownouts, a volcanic eruption that forced the American bases to close shop and an earthquake that damaged a large part of north Luzon. She survived it all armed with a rosary and so much faith in God.

Nobody can ever be like Cory. No other can wield so much power donned in a yellow tailored dress.

Aling Dionisia

I saw Aling Dionisia in a morning show earlier. Strange that she looks more like Jinky than Manny nowadays. (I suspect that they have the same stylist.) Whether that is a compliment to any of the two or an insult, I don't know - he he, am just saying what I am seeing.

It is heartening to see a person so happy and fulfilled in her senior years. Having a lot of money can do that I guess.. I just wish that I can do the same for my mom. I am not a multi-million dollar prize-winning boxer, not an endorser for international brands not even a trying hard singer. But I do love my mother maybe even more than Manny does loves his mom and so with the little I have, I always see to it that I give mom something to be happy about.

As for Aling D, I just hope that she does not get blinded by the glitter and dazzle of showbiz and then runs off with a stud. I wouldn't want to see in the papers or here in the news that she has a some kind of a scandal with Hayden!!! Eeeeww. Shudders.

Down but not out

I woke up this morning with a massive headache. Must have been due to the two-day strategic planning that I just went through. Kinda tough considering that the whole management team was there and we had to do a lot of "soul searching".

Initial part of the session was to determine our respective division's strengths and weaknesses do environmental scanning for threats and opportunities and present it to everybody for scrutiny. Man, it is not easy to point out weaknesses of others especially if they do not believe that they have something to improve in the first place. And even harder to accept that some people perceive your group as slackers when you thought that you have worked your ass off day in and day out. Sometimes you really have to ground yourself on the reality that you can never please everybody. You might be good but not good enough for some.

Anyway, we still have another day for the workforce planning and an additional day for the Operating Expense and Capital Expenditures planning for the coming fiscal year. So even though am feeling down in the dumps I have to jump start my neurons via several shots of brewed coffee to get me going through the week. Thank God for caffeine!

The Acai Effect

None. Zilch. Zero. There was no effect other than I had better bowel movement. But did it make me lose on weight? Nope nope nope. I do not know if it was because I took it only for 16 days when the recommendation was to have it going for 30 days. Or... the negating factor might have been that I did not take it together with the colon cleanser. Another possibility is that, maybe it is more effective in caplet form and not just the juice.

So, what now? Buy another bottle of acai juice? In the same fashion as The Thinker in the Night in the Museum Movie - Am thinking...am thinking... am think-ing....

Currently (while still deciding to continue the acai ritual), in order to reduce my weight I have stopped eating pork, beef and chicken. My source of protein now is just fish. Along with the fish I eat vegies and no rice. I don't feel lethargic or anything and I even feel lighter and more alert. In terms of weight, I have lost some pounds but nothing monumental that can land me an orlistat commercial. Well, not yet.... hehe.

Star Trek 2009 Movie - a must see

Watching Star Trek again in the big screen gave me a certain high. I used to watch the series when I was young (during the mid 70's, although it was aired in the states in the late 60's) and I wondered then if it the technologies presented there would ever come true. As I look at it now, most of the gadgets there are already being used and it seems that the only thing yet to be developed is the "transporter". It would be so cool to just beam down and beam up from one point to another. I don't even have to be an extreme commuter! I can attend meetings in Quezon City and get back to my work at Canlubang Laguna in a flash. That will be so efficient!

Anyway, I am recommending the movie not because Chris Pine is so boyish and naughty in his starfleet uniform and Zachary Quinto portrays such a cool Spock (I still think of him as Sylar from his heroes persona) but because the writer and the director was successful in updating the film. A non-trekie will be able to warm up to the characters easily without any background of who they are. The futuristic effects and elements are there but in subtle touches that you would forget that it is science fiction. You would believe it does exist or it will soon happen (at least that's how I felt). But what I like best is the humor interspersed throughout the flick. It is so interesting and yet entertaining.

I became a Trekie largely because of the influence of my eldest sibling. My kuya is a true blue nerd and yeah it rubbed off on me... I do consider myself (somewhat) a nerd too. And being "cerebral" peole we like the creativity and complexity that science fiction novels and movies offer without being too absurd, incredolous or fantastic. It stretches your imagination but not to the point that as Spock would say -not logical.

Acai Superfood - Found!

What do you know? After blogging about my failure to get the so-called superfood, Katrina of Healthy Options Mega Mall texted me that the Acai Juice is already available for pick-up. Nice! Yeah, yeah it is in juice form and not in caplets nevertheless it is still Acai and therefore I accepted it wholly and completely. Cost is less than Php 900.00 and a bottle is supposed to last for 16 days.

The first time I drank the juice (2 tablespoons with water or any juice) it made me go (as in go) in just a few minutes. I do not know if it was just psychological or it is the Acai's way of cleansing whatever should not be in my system. As per my recall I went thrice in that day (Whew!) which made me wonder - because it is supposed to increase my ability to burn fat and not as a colon cleanser or a laxative.

Anyway, I am still observing myself if it will make a significant impact on my desire to reduce my size to a svelte size 6. I've been on it for 6 days now... with fingers crossed am hoping it will work. Sana nga. Sana.

Acai Berry Superfood - but where?

I have been controlling my weight since 1998. After giving birth I needed to shed some 20 pounds wherein I was initially successful. However as I age, I notice that I tend to gain more than lose. Oh meyn! I stayed away from rice since I was diagnosed to have high blood sugar and would eat mostly veggies and lean meat (well as long as it is available) but still I am around 20 pounds heavier than my ideal weight. Kainis!!! I go to the gym on a weekly basis, walk and run (more walk than run), lift a few weights so that flab will not settle in my arms, legs and middle section but they do find their way there anyway. Aaargghh...

I've tried the cabbage diet which was effective as I lost some 5 pounds in 3 days but it was programmed for immediate weight loss only which is not what I need. See, I find it easy to lose weight but to maintain it at a level that I desire is something that I still need to master. And so the search is still on for a diet that I can really follow for the rest of my adult life.

A friend told me that Oprah endorsed in her show a "superfood" that guarantees weight loss in a month or two. It is in capsule form and when ingested it acts as energy booster and helps burn unnecessary fat as it has high antioxidants. However, (my friend said that) Oprah also said that in order to enjoy the full benefits of this berry it must be taken with a natural colon cleanser. Said cleanser removes fecal matter and harmful bacteria in the colon which hampers the absorption of good nutrients by the body. Explanation seems logical to me and thus my friend and I decided to look for it so that we can try it for ourselves. We went hunting in several establishments that my carry these "awesome twosome" but alas! It is out of stock and no sales clerk knows when it will be available. I also tried to surf the net and order but unfortunately they are not being offered here in the Philippines. Yeah right! What the fuss!??!

Until now the acai berry and the colon cleanser (forgot the brand name!) seems to be very elusive. No GNC or Healthy Options outlet has it (at least the ones that I go to). So for now, I still go to the gym or walk at the Marikina Sports Center track oval for an hour every now and then. Still no rice. Still no table sugar in my food. Still no softdrinks. Still non-fat milk in my coffee. Still overweight though.

Pacquiao Fiasco

Manny Pacquiao's decision to jump out from his Solar Sports contract to go to ABSCBN and then go back again to Solar Sports in a matter of days is down right farcical. Manny is definitely a great fighter pound-for-pound but when it comes to keeping his word he sucks! This flip-flopping from one contract to another is the second time that the slugger has done it (check out Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank issue) and so I say, it is becoming to be a bad habit.

Most probably he thinks that he can breach a contract and just settle it with the concerned party by paying some of his extra Php 100M++. He has reached the point wherein money has become so much of a weapon --wielding it to anybody or anything that comes his way. Not knowing that in the process it has shattered into pieces his sensibility and honor.

He may say that the contracts he enters into are merely pieces of paper but more than anything else it documents one's decision to do something for another party. When you say you are going to do something -by all means and ways do it! Settlement is one thing but with what this boxer did --I do not think he feels good about it. (Well I hope!)

Manny, you have to be committed and you have to be authentic.

Our word is our covenant and being true to it makes us human beings - "you know".

The Curious Case of

Benjamin Button, the 2008 movie adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story is a must see as it has quite an unusual plot. However, when I looked up the short story from Wikipedia, it is way different from the screenplay. The only elements that remained faithful to the original story is the name of Benjamin Button and the idea that the man was born old and as years go by he gets younger and younger until he dies as an infant.

In some way I think it is nice to be born old and to die young. At least you get stronger through the years and you do not worry of losing some of your hair, having poor eye sight or having wrinkles. Instead, you gain a youthful look and you have more vigor and vitality as you "un-age".

I wonder what will the world look like if that was the natural course of events? Imagine guys in their 20 years of existence looking like in their 50s romping around trying to get the attention of ladies who seem to be already in their menopausal stage but have yet to experience intimacy. Or boys and girls in their 60 years of being alive dressed in shorts and jumpers making a run for ice cream and candy. So confusing and strange when you think of it now but if that was the norm, I think it wouldn't matter at all. Which prods me to contemplate of more what-if scenarios and thus giving me a mild headache.

Going back in time is an idea that has been a subject of movies, books, theories and has fascinated both geniuses and the uninitiated. Going back gradually and living in a reverse kind of way however is mind boggling! And something tells me I gotta stop thinking about it. Aaargh! there's that headache again.

Lotto loco finito

From the Php 107M pot money (when I first wrote about lotto) it has reached to Php 340M after 3 weeks or so. Two lucky people won it and I guess they are now enjoying their winnings. They surely are blessed to have so much money with so little investment. Some people toil for years and die having no money in the bank and even with debts. Yet these two winners just spent a few minutes in a lotto line, thought of one to six -6 number combinations, dished out maybe a few bucks and in a matter of days became millionaires and not just a million or two but a hundred and seventy times more!

But then who am I to judge these people who won? For all I know they have worked their butts off too and had their own share of misfortunes since they existed. Per the meaning of word lotto in Italy, it must be their "destiny", who knows?

As for me, my dream of buying a new house (if I bagged the prize) remains to be a dream. I have to stop thinking of ways of how shall I claim the money without being harassed by people for "balato". Or where will I invest it to secure the amount and make it grow further. Too bad I cannot take up foreign language lessons yet and my trip across Europe will have to be postponed for now. Aaahh... those things will just have to wait.

Moth in the Garden

I received a flickr link from Richard (my nephew) the other day showing his pics of an Oleander Hawk Moth resting on the Santan flower in my mom's small garden. It is so different from moths that I normally see and thus I cannot help but wonder about said creature.

As you can see from the pic the moth's wings sports a very interesting design. Color is grayish green with blotches of white and has a pinkish band across the middle section. On the base of the fore wings is a circular pattern and mimic eyes that seem to stare at you. I guess it is the insect's defense mechanism to make itself more intimidating to larger animals.

It has relatively large eyes, large head and its hind wings have a very unusual shape as if it has been carefully cut or curved. It kinda reminds me of Batman's boomerang or more aptly called "bat-arang".

Based on the website of the Australian Museum, Hawk Moths comprise of around 850 known species wherein the most diverse varieties are present in tropical countries. And that, most Australian species also occur in Southeast Asia. For all we know, this moth in our garden might been an Aussie! Hi mate! He he.

What fascinates me most about this oleander hawk moth however is the way it flies. Actually it hovers more than it glides. And unlike most moths, it is not active during the day. It is nocturnal and thus feeds only at night. When my mom and nephew saw it at the garden it was still morning and when I arrived home it was still there. However, the morning after, we can no longer find it. Awww too bad! I wanted to see more of how it behaves and putting it in a bottle or cage crossed my mind. However, I scratched the thought as captivity might just lead to its death.

I remember the time when my kuya used to collect cocoons of mariposa from the santol tree at the back of our house in Pateros. He would keep it for weeks in a bottle with cotton balls as its bedding. We would observe the progress of the pupa on a daily basis and get excited when we sense any movement. Sometimes we set it against the light so that we can see through the cocoon. Being kids though we would get impatient and cut the end of the casing in order to help the moth to emerge. However, the more that we help the more that the moth fails to get out. It would wither and die with crumpled wings.

Nowadays, it is very seldom that we see moths and butterflies even dragonflies. There were three varieties of them that I remember; 1) the "tutubing karayom" which has a body as thin as a needle (obvious ba?), they are easy to catch but not exciting to look at. 2) the usual "tutubi" wherein the body is larger than the karayom one, has a helicopter like head and comes in blue, green and yellow colors. I would try to catch them testing my patience, swiftness and steadiness of my hands and 3) the "tutubing kalabaw" which is the largest of the three and is usually brown or dark red in color. But no, it not as big as a carabao (pilosopo naman kayo!). It is just relatively big compared to the other two and during those days any big creature is associated with a carabao. (ewan kung bakit).

Back then they were plenty in our school grounds and in gardens. Catching them was a sort of ritual during recess and after classes. It was a kind of meditation for me. Everything else seems to freeze when I put my focus into getting one by the wings between my thumb and index finger. And the satisfaction of letting it fly again is incomparable. It is a pity that kids no longer see some or even just one up close. Swerte na pag may naligaw!

I just hope that we can preserve more of these creatures as they do help plants propagate and continue the greening of the planet. Who wants a dry and lifeless world? I don't!

Lotto loco

The long queue in lotto outlets got me curious on how much is for the taking. And as expected it is a huge sum -Php 107M!!! (roughly US$ 2M) And at around 8:30 the pot money for the megalotto draw reached Php 120M++. Since nobody won the last draw, my wild guess is that it will again increase by another Php 20M or so. Nice!

Winning the lottery has always been a dream for almost everybody. Well at least most people I know. I have not encountered a person who wouldn't want to win in it as it is the fastest and easiest way to hit big time.

Based on my short reading from the interlotto.com website regarding Lotto History, the term lotto is an Italian word meaning destiny or fate. And it is also written there that the game dates as far back as the time of Moses, wherein the system was used in order to determine who will be given pieces of land west of the River Jordan.

In the Philippines, when I was a kid the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office used to print Sweepstakes coupons and you get to choose from the pre-printed set of numbers. It was cumbersome in terms of choosing the coupon and a lot of cost for PCSO in printing it. An old man would come regularly in our neighborhood carrying booklets of the coupons and he would let the adults in the "hood" take their pick of their favorite number combinations. He would entice them by calling out "supistik!(his slang for sweepstake), taya na kayo sa supistik!" And he would tell success stories of people he knew who won the last "bola" (lottery). Which does generate a lot of interest and actual sale (and justifies the term bola! he he. Bolahan lang ito).

Nowadays, people still go gaga over lotteries. Dreams and the elements of dreams are associated with numbers that one should pick as their winning lotto entry. Birthdates, anniversaries, addresses are constantly put in betting stations but some do get tired of placing the same combinations and just take the electronically suggested ones called "lucky pick".

Hopes are built around would be lotto winnings and it has been a staple question even in beauty pageants. Usually the query is - "What will you do if you win a 100 million pesos in a lottery?" And the standard answers would be, buy a house, buy a car and the classic - "give some to charity or to their favorite parish church". Half wishing that their chance of winning the lottery and/or the pageant will greatly increase because of the charity part.

Whatever it is that one desires though whether for oneself or for the world entire a windfall from a lotto winning is a great high. Call it fate, destiny, luck -I call it a gift. And thus as with gifts, what you do with it makes it more special and everlasting.

Teka, maka-taya na nga.

(not so good) Palawan trip

My first trip to Puerto Princesa, Palawan a week ago was not such a good experience -no thanks to Air Philippines! Although the reason I went there was really not for pleasure but because it was part of my job handling Logistics Operations still I was expecting that it will be a nice one.

My companions and I were booked in Air Philippines going in and going out of said island. Our ETD from the NAIA Terminal 3 was at 9:20am and therefore I decided to be there early at around 7am to avoid the 8am rush hour. However, when I checked in, they said that the flight will be delayed to 1pm (anak ng weteng!) and they said that the option is for me to transfer to a PAL flight leaving at 8:00am. When I asked the reason for the delay they said it was a scheduled thing and that our travel agent should have advised us ahead of time. Heck!!! Obviously, our travel agency did not do their part.

Anyway, I agreed to the transfer but had to make quick calls to my two colleagues who are in the flight with me to hurry up because it is either we leave in less than an hour or take the 1pm flight. Good thing they were both in the area already and thus they hurriedly had their tickets processed to effect the airline transfer.

Eto pa! The PAL plane was in NAIA Terminal 2 pala which is totally a different airport. They gave us money to get a cab for the trip to said terminal and off we went. Barely 20 minutes to spare and short of breath we had our bags checked, and went straight to the supervisor for the PAL chek-in. Fortunately, with remaining 10 minutes before the plane is scheduled to leave we got ourselves seated and enjoyed the only nice part in this "Amazing Race-like" situation which is -they got us booked in the business class! The seats were a lot nicer, more leg room and there was choice of breakfast and drinks. Naks! And so we landed at Palawan with full stomachs and rested legs.

At the island, the air was fresh but quite humid. We took a tricycle (there are no cabs) from the airport going to our warehouse and got down to business right away. After the meeting we checked in at Skylight Hotel which had modest facilities and thank God with clear and wide hallways. (I hate hotels that have dark and dingy rooms). We just left our things and headed out for chow.

Lunch was at Mang Inato's which served local cuisine. Their specialty is barbecued chicken with matching one foot length bamboo sticks as skewer. The chicken was tough to bite and a little salty so I concentrated on eating the kilawing tangigue instead. After lunch it was back to work again until 6pm then we went back to our hotel. Took a bath using the hotel's soap but it was so rough that after my shower I had rashes in my arms. Ugh.

At around 7pm we had dinner with the prospective ditributor at Kinabuch's. The place has both outdoor and indoor dining areas and they have a big big screen that projected the sports channel. What is their top selling menu? Guess what- barbecued chicken skewered in 1 foot long bamboo sticks! Yeah again! But this time, the meat was tender and not salty. (buti na lang). Their squid with sauce was also delicious as well as their tuna sashimi. We had a long dinner as we were joined by their other principals (pharma indutry). We were able to exchange notes regarding logistics and distribution across diverse industries and it was pretty interesting.

The next day was still work and more work. We really had no time to do any sight seeing. Per the locals, in order to appreciate Palawan you need a minimum of one week so that you can check out the nice beach within the main island. To get to the smaller islands though you will need more than a week. If only I had the time and money to spend away I would! But back to reality...

Flight out from Puerto Princesa was originally scheduled lunch time but (as you have guessed by now) it is again delayed (apo ng weteng!na naman!). So we had to wait for 2 hours. This time lady luck was not on our side as the other airlines were already fully booked. Mosquitos hovered around at the lounge and I had to contend with doing some of my e-mails and presentation materials while waiting. The plane arrived the airport as per the "delayed scheduled" and we boarded. The whole trip back was uneventful. Salamat naman!

Lessons learned from this trip:
1. Never fly Air Philippines going to Palawan.

2. It is wise to bring laptop with weroam, PSP, iPod and pocket book so that you will not go crazy while waiting for your delayed flight.

3. Better to bring your own bath soap. It will keep the rashes away.

4. Bring insect repellent always.

News from Dubai

I have two friends who are now working in Dubai. Ruby whom I first met in 1997 during her OJT (on the job training) days is an Industrical Engineering (IE) gradute from Mapua. I felt her potential and got her as my IE to do time and motion studies as well as methods and process improvements in our opertions. When she saw the opportunity to move up outside her current job she wasted no time in pursuing it. After that, it has been a smooth progression for her from then on. Now, she is handling merchandise planning in a big retail firm in Dubai.

The other one is Bessie, a licensed Civil Engineer who graduated from a university in Pangasinan. She also worked with me and Ruby and she was one of the topnotch Managers handling several production facilities in North Luzon.

These two ladies used to report to me but I consider them more as friends rather than subordinates. I have very high respect for them because of their intelligence, commendable work ethics and dedication to their job. After 3 years or so (1997 to 2001) of working with them however, I needed to transfer to another company due to a better offer and so did they. We lost touch for some time and there were brief e-mail exchanges mostly from Ruby only. Bessie chose to set-up a small business in her hometown in Pangasinan and it was just once when she called me thru her cel but that was it. We had no communications after that. Thus, when Ruby informed me thru YM last 2005 that she saw Bessie in Dubai it was such a pleasant surprise. Of all places Dubai pa sila nagkita while they never got to see each other in Manila! Anyway, now we all communicate thru chat or e-mail. Sometimes they send me photos and the pic of the famous Burj Al Arab you see in this post was sent to me by Ruby.

Gloom and doom is the prevailing atmosphere there -so they tell me. Most of the construction projects were put on hold or were cancelled and therefore a lot of people were laid off. In the retail business, they have also felt the crunch as some of Ruby's colleagues accepted a 40% pay cut just so they will not be terminated. Although the two are both hardworking, very good at their respective fields and their positions are critical in the operations they cannot help but be cautious also of their next steps especially on their investments and future plans. They have been there since 2005 and this is the first time that they have felt vulnerable.

What will happen there in the next months is pretty scary! Hope and pray that Dubai's sail will remain steadfast in these uncertain times.

The Obama Factor

I was not able to catch the inaugural speech of US President Barack Obama (last Jan 20) as there is a 14 hour difference between Manila and Washington. I am already in deep sleep when he delivered it so I just searched for the full transcript of his speech in the web.

It was goosebumps moment for me while reading it. He touched very salient points in said speech which were worded quite simply yet with so much depth and yes boldness! He talked about of course the financial crisis that the US is currently facing, the war that they are waging, the effect of such foolishness in their daily lives but my favorite was his short discussion on the way that they have been negligent in caring for their environment and natural resources.

What is so awesome however is the crowd that he draws in. I saw the pics in the papers of the people who went to his inauguration and they were a lot! And as I watch the footage a day after of the event, the wave of emotion that flows amongst the crowd is clearly shown. Is it because he is the first African American President that makes him such a novelty? Is it because he is young and has a relatively fresh face that you can warm up to so easily? Is it because he talks with so much clarity that you cannot help but listen? Even John McCain has noticed this and thus branded him as a "rock star" connoting that he is just a personality - which did more good than harm to Obama's campaign by the way. He has something in him than I cannot pinpoint. He is an enigma. Perhaps, a symbol of hope and change for many. I guess that was the factor that put him in the White House.

Enigma or not though, great expectations are in his shoulders and it is up to him to keep America's hopes high yet make the people realize that what and where they are now is their own undoing and yes -it will take a hell of a lot of time. Per Obama's words, "Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met."

Breaking routine

Instead of going to the mall after mass, Alia and I tried out a newly opened restaurant a few "walkable" meters away from church named Bellini's. To my surprise they serve authentic Italian meals and it was actually good (well based on my standards)! They had me at antipasto (in Italy it means before the meal or simply put, appetizer). Bruschetta al pomodoro is as it is already filling -the basil and fresh tomatoes are overflowing on top of the italian bread! Their pizza is paper thin (which is how I like it) and the size is just right. I also ordered penne arrabiata which is to my taste a little salty but in totality it's delicious. The place is nice with heavy wooden furniture and a wall covered with pictures of I presume the owner during his youth in Italy. The only improvement that they need to do is their facade. They should really do something about the paint on both the color and the work done there. Also, the outside seating with the umbrellas do not tie-up with what's going on in the inside. (He he. That was my business makeover take in a nutshell.)

After the nice meal, we walked across the resto and went to the public market's dry goods and handicrafts section to look for materials needed for Alia's project. Fortunately we got all what we needed and it was again a surprise as we have been lookin for it in the mall and they were not available. Sus! Andoon lang pala sa tabi-tabi.

After our palengke tour we proceeded to the supermarket for some groceries. We did not take a ride though, instead, we decided to walk some more which was a relatively long trek. Yet, we enjoyed it as the sun was kind and the sidewalks were clear - (ahhh Marikina is such as clean city.

It was a refreshing change from what we usually do during Sundays. I can't wait to try something new again next week.

The night the earth froze

Oh meyn! Evenings here in Marikina is freaking cold and so during the past few days I go to sleep wearing a sweater. In Laguna it is colder though. It has been 3 days that we don't open our aircons in the office and still it is chilly. We are all wearing jackets even during noon as the gusts of the cold breeze really bite. How about that? Last year same month was not this cold as what we are experiencing and I have heard in the radio just this morning that the prevailing temperature in Minnesota is -30 degrees C. FRRRGGGIDDD. Bep told me thru YM yesterday also that in Melbourne it was 39 degrees C and now it is 23 degrees C. Such wide swings!

Is this part of a bigger occurrence called "climate change"? Are we going to have hotter summers after this? Did we do this? Are these the effects of our nonchalant use, overuse and abuse of our earth? I hope not.

I don't mind aliens looking like Keanu Reeves paying a visit but the idea of ETs wiping out humankind to save our world is something that we really should think about.

Sunday mass

Photo by Igan

I love attending Sunday mass. I find it a good cap to end the week and at the same time a nice way to start another one. And whenever there is a lingering question in my mind, the answer is given to me there in some way or some form.

Commuter - Extreme

Since March I have become an "Extreme Commuter". It is a term coined by the Census Bureau according to Mark J. Penn in his book Microtrends. Per the author, extreme commuters are people who travel at least 90 minutes each way to get to work.

Actually if I will be technical about it since year 2005, I can already be regarded as one. I live in Marikina and I report for work in Makati. However, the 90 minutes or more is due to horrendous traffic and not actually the distance. Therefore I consider it only as a circumstance and not a choice.

This time it is a totally different take as I am very much aware that Marikina is 75kms or so from where I work but still I took the job. (The masochist and the overachiever in me won.) I leave the house at 6 to 6:15 in the morning so that I will arrive at our Manufacturing plant at Laguna a little before 8:00 am. The first few days was tiring and I had to really study the flow. SLEX is undergoing a major repair and so the distance is not only the challenge but also the terrain! Asphalt, dirt, potholes, gravel, cement, roadblocks, plastic cones, cement blocks, ropes, merge, diverge, stalled vehicles, inconsiderate drivers, road hogs, smoke belchers - you name it the road has it.

Going home is tougher as it adds another hour or so. When it rains - it sucks! Am not complaining though. No no no. Am just venting. The drive actually gives me time to think, I get to be updated on what's new in the music industry thanks to the radio. However, sometimes I get turned off by all the talk jocks do but then hey! that is their job. And yes, there are instances that I get to know the news also. (Oo nga pala). And most importantly driving early in the morning satisfies the F1 driver in me. The need for speed is just too strong to ignore. I will not be branded by Alia as a suicidal driver for nothing. He he.

Daily grind

Haaay...getting out from vacation mode and going back to your daily grind is such an effort! Thus, in order to psyche myself and all the people around me at work I informed my direct reports last Dec 23 that we will have a meeting come Jan 5, Monday at 9am. He he.

I think it worked! Well at least that is what I perceive it to be. It gave us some sense of purpose to review what has happened the past months, where are we against our targets and what do we need to do to get there.

O di ba?

Dad

Today is dad's death anniversary. It has been 9 years.

I remember the burden and confusion that I felt when I found out from his doctor that he has 3 to 4 days to live. How the heck am I going to tell my mom about it??? I cannot remember though how I was able to go through that ordeal. It was numbing. His hospital bills and medicine ate up whatever savings that I had. I was so engrossed in thinking on how will I get the funds to support all the costs involved. When he died, I felt more the relief than the pain of losing someone. No tears fell from my eyes and the guilt that went with it lingered.

It was tough to carry on that way until I confessed to a priest during a teambuilding session in Tagaytay. He said that I was but human and the feeling of relief was normal. "You did everything you can during the time that he needed it and that is more than enough" the priest said. And it was only then that I cried.

I asked for forgiveness from my dad and from God. I told myself that for my mom, I will not worry about the money leaving my pocket. Help will come as I have experienced so many times in dire situations - God does provide.

Year 2008 Review 2nd Half

July

-gave Alia a new PC on her birthday. She chose a desktop over a laptop because she wanted her cousin (who is a budding web page designer) to be able to use it also. Good good girl.

-mom's fifth chemo session. One more to go! She is progressing beautifully.

-crude oil price per barrel is already at a ridiculous US$ 140.00. Prices of raw materials are also in a steep incline. Had to change buying strategies fast.

August

-mom's 6th and final chemo. She has graduated at last! We have moved back her bed upstairs.

-Alia is doing great in her studies and seems to be enjoying her popularity. Most probably she has found the group of kids that shares her interests.

-crazy month at work at it is our schedule for resource planning and strategic planning for the next fiscal year.

September

-mom's hair has grown back. She looks like a rocker. Cool!

- KRAs KRAs KRAs. We have to set our goals and targets per Key Result Area so that we will have a sense of direction on where are we going, why and how. The big boss has very high expectations. Hope I can live up to it.

October

- per my mom's oncologist during her most recent check-up, radiation sessions are now needed to ensure that my mom's ailment will not recur. Huwaatt!?! Mom refused and said that she will die faster from the radiation sessions than the cancer. Kulit. Aries (my brother) agreed with her decision but as for me, I would rather that she try alternative medicine.

- spent half a day in Cebu for a meeting and two warehouse visits. Flew to Boracay after to attend our 3-day Sales Conference. It was humid and there were a lot of people. Fides and I chose not to swim nor dip. (hindi kasi ako marunong lumangoy, hihi).

November

-visited dad's grave at Heaven's Gate in Cogeo. I wondered if he was up in the heavens looking down at us.

-hated the clutter that people leave in the cemetery after undas. Ayaw ni BF ng ganoon.

-mom dreamt that she saw my dad and asked him to take her in a place where there was bright light and which seemed nice. My dad said daw na "hindi, dyan ka lang" and then left. We interpret it as his way of saying to my mom that she will have to be with us longer.

December

- we celebrated our office Christmas Party with 50 underprivileged kids from Don Bosco of Sta Rosa Laguna. We toured them in our plant and warehouse, gave them gifts, let them play and had lunch with them. We hope that they had a grand time as much as we did.

- shopped for gifts, met up with friends, attended Vince's wedding, went to Igan's place, visited relatives, discarded old things, gave away stuff and cleaned the house.

-hoped and prayed for good health for those who are near and dear to me.

-thanked God for everything.

Looking back it was a hell of a roller coaster ride. I can't wait for a Happy New Year! :-)

Year 2008 Review 1st Half

Summary of 2008, the year that was:

January

- celebrated my birthday. Same old, same old. My age? secret!

- removed most of my stuff in my office to prepare for my exit by end Feb.

February

-said goodbye to my friends and colleagues in the supply chain food industry.

- my mom was diagnosed with Cancer. Her uterus and fallopian tubes had to be removed.

March

- joined another company to save my sanity and of course for a greener pasture.

- mom underwent hysterectomy on her 65th birthday. We were advised that she has to have 6 chemo sessions, each session an interval of 3 weeks. We had to relocate her bed to make the bathroom accessible to her.

- Alia graduated from her Elementary education whew!! High school naman!

April

- celebrated April Fools! He he.

- fascinated with work as it is a completely different field.

- Alia's summer vacation. No need to wake up at 4:30am haaay salamat.

- mom's first chemo session. I am as nervous as she is.

May

- still learning the ropes at work.

- mom's second chemo session. She feels weak every after session for 3 straight days but thank God she is holding up. There are days as if she is not sick at all.

June

- excitedly progressing with my new job and found new friends in the person of Fides and Gigs.

- Mom's third and fourth chemo session. She has lost most of her hair but still does most of the things that she normally do. Such a strong-willed woman.

- Alia on her first month in her first year in a science high school! I pray she maintains her good grades.

AriesTocat

Aries the youngest among the siblings with his lovely wife Analyn had to spend a few days in Pampanga to visit his in-laws. So we were tasked to look after Tocat (short for Ariestocat), their uber-cute tomcat during their absence. It was such a welcome change for us considering that the last pet we had was a "psychocat" (see post entitled Pussit) while this one is oh so malambing, house trained and behaved. I commented that with the way he responds it seems that he went to an obedience school -which Alia quickly added must have been a "Harvard Obedience School" at that.

whodat cat?

Tocat knows how to fetch, does not mind if he is on a leash when Alia walks him during mornings, does his thing only in his litter box, and knows how to open cabinets and doors. And more importantly he understands the word NO.

He is not a pedigreed feline. Yup! he is a trueblue "pusakal". Aries found him still a kitten at the parking lot of UST. He saw the little cat's tabby-like markings noticed his intelligent eyes, liked him instantly and therefore took him home. Since then, Tocat has been the couple's house companion in their Manila Condo.

He also makes a very good subject for my brother's SLR camera as shown in his pics below:

catatonic

it's a feline thing

an eye for an eye

it wasn't me

rowrrr!
whaat?!

His regular food is tuna (solid in water) and whiskas. He does not eat anything else and moreover does not like it mixed. Therefore we have to serve it to him in his dish neatly divided or else he will not consume it all (maarte rin). He likes sniffing my mom's plants and one time ate some of our palmera's leaves. It made him vomit it out after a while which I think it is his way of detoxifying. He likes taking a nap at the stairs so that he will have a good view of what's going on in the house. Daily he will rub himself between my legs, my mom's, my nephew's, Alia's - everybody, anybody.

Alas! His stay at our house had to end. Mom asked Aries several times if we can just keep him but bro had grown fond of Tocat as he had raised him since he was a little kitty so his answer was no. Awww too bad! He said though that he will try to look for a new pusakal for us to raise. sha sha sha.

let's paws... for now